WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Waynesboro, PA, agricultural producer will receive $145,838 to expand sales of value-added Angus beef products as part of $26.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants supporting 194 agricultural projects nationwide.
Family Farm Direct LLC will use the Value-Added Producer Grant for supplies, distribution, processing, and manufacturing expenses tied to converting its Angus beef into dry-aged primal pet products and beef jerky, according to USDA.
The project is expected to expand the company’s customer base by almost 31,000 people and increase revenue by approximately $165,000.
The Pennsylvania award is part of USDA Rural Development’s latest round of Value-Added Producer Grants, which agricultural producers can use to develop products, conduct market research, and implement business and marketing strategies. The program is designed to create new products, expand market opportunities, and increase producer income.
Of the $26.5 million being distributed nationally, $11.6 million is going to 80 beef-producer projects.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins positioned the funding as part of the department’s effort to expand economic opportunities for cattle producers and other agricultural businesses.
“By supporting our ranchers and agricultural producers as they develop new products and increase the value of what they grow and raise, we’re helping to create new revenue opportunities to grow the herd and create long-term economic resilience in rural communities across this nation,” Rollins stated.
Other awards identified by USDA include $199,309 for Light Hill Meats in Columbia, TN, to support processing, marketing, sales, and distribution as it expands its grain-finished, hormone-free beef products.
Blair Carney Farms LLC in Adair County, IA, will receive $48,000 for marketing and processing activities intended to expand the family operation’s market for Black Angus beef products.
USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith described the program as a way for agricultural producers to capture more of the value generated from the commodities they raise by moving into processing and direct marketing.
The Value-Added Producer Grant program supports planning and working-capital needs associated with processing and marketing agricultural products. USDA’s fiscal 2026 program rules allow planning grants of up to $50,000 and working-capital grants of up to $200,000.
Applications are generally accepted from agricultural producers early in the year, depending on when program funding becomes available.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.